Every December the salon phone starts ringing with the same question: "They use Paul Mitchell — which set do I buy?" After nearly twenty years as an authorised Paul Mitchell Signature Salon here in Bridlington, I can usually answer with one question of my own: whose hair is it, and what is it like? Get that right and a hair care gift stops being a polite filler present and becomes the thing they use up and quietly re-buy in February.
So here is my honest gift guide, organised by the person you're buying for. Every set below is genuine stock supplied direct from SweetSquared, Paul Mitchell's official UK distributor, and in stock as I write this.
Why a kit beats a single bottle
Our gift sets are priced 6–7% below buying the same products individually, and they arrive as a ready-made routine — cleanse, treat, finish — so nobody is left guessing what goes with what. Almost every set here also clears our free UK delivery threshold of £25 on its own.
For the blonde in your life
The Paul Mitchell Blonde Care Kit (£53.95) pairs Platinum Blonde Violet Shampoo and Conditioner with the Platinum Plus Violet Toning Drops (25ml). Violet pigment is what keeps blonde, highlighted and silver hair from drifting brassy between salon visits, and the drops let them dial the toning up or down themselves. If they moan about yellow tones, this is the one.
For curly hair
Curly hair is thirsty hair, so the Paul Mitchell Curly Hair Care Kit (from £67.95) leans on the Tea Tree Lavender Mint Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner, then adds the Curl Refresh Foam (200ml) for reviving day-two and day-three curls without a full wash. That foam is the sleeper hit — most curly clients have never owned a refresher and wonder how they managed without one.
For fine or flat hair
The Paul Mitchell Fine Hair Volume Kit (£70.15) is the full Extra Body trio: shampoo, conditioner and Sculpting Foam. Fine hair needs lift without weight, and this is the range I put clients on in the salon when they say their hair goes flat by lunchtime. The foam at the roots before blow-drying is where the magic happens.
For the men (who won't buy it themselves)
Two options, depending on the man. The Paul Mitchell MITCH Grooming Gift Set (£50.95) bundles Heavy Hitter shampoo with Steady Grip (150ml) and Reformer (85g) — a wash plus two finishes, one polished, one matte and textured. For the more natural, workmanlike sort, the Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Styling Gift Set (£45.95) pairs the famous tingly Tea Tree Special Shampoo with Firm Hold Gel and Shaping Cream (85g). Not sure which styler suits him? My complete MITCH styling guide walks through every product by hair type and finish.
For dry or damaged hair
For hair that's simply parched, the Paul Mitchell Dry Hair Rescue Kit (from £64.95) combines Clean Beauty Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner with the Awapuhi Moisture Mist for topping up hydration between washes.
For hair that's properly damaged — over-coloured, over-straightened, in recovery — I'd go for the Paul Mitchell Overnight Repair Kit (from £60.95) instead. It's a three-step evening ritual: Tea Tree Lavender Mint Moisturizing Shampoo, Overnight Moisture Therapy that works while they sleep, and Nourishing Oil to finish. A genuinely thoughtful gift for anyone whose hair has had a hard year.
For the Paul Mitchell first-timer — and smaller budgets
Not sure which range suits them? Play it safe and classic. The Mel's Pick: Shampoo One & Detangler Set (from £36.95) is the pairing I've recommended for decades — a gentle everyday shampoo partnered with a lightweight detangling conditioner. It suits virtually everyone, which is exactly what you want in a gift. If they'd rather explore, point them at my guide to every Paul Mitchell range to find their match.
For a stocking filler, the Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Body & Hand Care Set (£24.95) — Body Bar (150g) plus Hand Soap — brings that unmistakable tea tree tingle without touching the hair routine they already love. It sits a whisker under the free delivery line, so pop anything small alongside it and shipping's covered too.
A quick steer by budget
- Under £50: Mel's Pick Shampoo One & Detangler (from £36.95), Tea Tree Styling Gift Set (£45.95), Tea Tree Body & Hand Set (£24.95)
- £50–£65: MITCH Grooming Gift Set (£50.95), Blonde Care Kit (£53.95), Overnight Repair Kit (from £60.95), Dry Hair Rescue Kit (from £64.95)
- £65 and up: Curly Hair Care Kit (from £67.95), Fine Hair Volume Kit (£70.15) — or step several kits up to litre sizes; my litre buying guide explains when the big bottles earn their keep
Ordering in time, without the panic
We dispatch weekday orders placed before 2pm the same day, and UK delivery takes 1–3 working days. Delivery is free on orders over £25 — which every hair kit above qualifies for on its own — and everything comes with 30-day returns if you've guessed a hair type badly wrong. We ship within the UK only, and because we're a Signature Salon, every product is guaranteed genuine.
Are Paul Mitchell gift sets cheaper than buying the products separately?
Yes. Our salon-curated kits are priced 6–7% below buying the same products individually, and most qualify for free UK delivery over £25 on their own — so the saving is real rather than gift-box packaging you pay extra for.
How long does Paul Mitchell gift set delivery take in the UK?
Order on a weekday before 2pm and we dispatch the same day, with UK delivery in 1–3 working days. Delivery is free over £25 and we ship UK-wide (UK only).
What is the best Paul Mitchell gift set for someone new to the brand?
The Mel's Pick Shampoo One & Detangler Set (from £36.95). It's the classic pairing that suits virtually every hair type, so it's the safest first introduction — and if they love it, the litre versions make the refill economical.